44 BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. 



Manager would, as is the Secretary, be in the otlice of the Board from 

 one fair to another, and as each fair came on he would keep in touch 

 with the slightest details. The President of the Board can npt be in 

 Indianapolis throughout the year, and the General Manager should have 

 power to dispose of questions of lesser importance, which now only the 

 President can dispose of. Under present arrangements many of the 

 little details are not worked out until the day the fair begins, and maybe 

 later, Avhile, if you will confer the authority on a General Manager he 

 can dispose of them weeks before the fair comes on. I am confident 

 that by broadening the powers of the Secretary and giving him a title 

 which befits his higher station, you will broaden his usefulness and 

 clear your President of many bothersome trifles which hinder him beyond 

 measure while the fair is in progress. 



One of your growing sources of revenue is the mile race track, where 

 through spring and summer horses are in training for their work on 

 the circuits. As time goes by it becomes clearer that this track is one 

 of the Board's best investments and every effort should be put forward 

 to make it a still greater producer of revenue. At the same time it 

 should be protected and made as serviceable as possible. Its value can 

 be largely increased to horsemen by resoiling its surface, and I recom- 

 mend that tlie Board do this needed work as soon as the season will 

 permit. The half-mile track has fully demonstrated its value, and it will 

 have still greater worth if the Board will place it in such condition that 

 it can be used as a wet weather track. I recommend that in the future 

 a provision of race entries roonirc that horses shall start in events on 

 the half mile track, w^hen the u.>ather puts the mile course out of 

 condition. 



The litigation growing out of the right of the Board to purchase the 

 134 acres of land owned by Mrs. Theresa N. Smith held under lease and 

 option to purchase by the Board, is still pending in the courts and unde- 

 termined. The decisions of the courts upon the pleadings in the case up 

 to this time have been favorable to the Board, and we have the assur- 

 ance of our counsel that we are in a fair way to be successful in the 

 end. 



I am heartily thankful to every member of this body for aid during 

 the past year. • It is upon you that I have leaned for support, and what- 

 ever success this administration has had is due to your sustaining force 

 i-ather than to what I have done. To the heads of departments I have 

 tui'ned many times and found them eager to give their help. My thanks 

 are due the General Superintendent for his constant energy. I have 

 found our Secretary alert and tireless in his efforts, always turning his 

 ability into the channel which would bring the most good to the Board. 

 Your Treasurer has served you well and I have found him to be faithful 

 and diligent in purpose. To the Board and its enterprise I give my best 

 wishes for a deserved prosperity, which will come from work well done. 



